The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that they will miss defenceman Morgan Rielly for a minimum of eight weeks. The reason behind this important long-term absence for the Maple Leafs is a fractured foot Rielly suffered in Toronto´s latest contest on Sunday against the Florida Panthers. As usual, the Maple Leafs have been relying heavily on Rielly. Toronto has called up defenceman Rasmus Sandin from the Toronto Marlies in the AHL.
(1/2) The @MapleLeafs announced today that defenceman Morgan Rielly underwent a CT scan this afternoon after sustaining an injury in last night’s game against Florida and will be out a minimum of eight weeks with a fractured foot.
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) January 13, 2020
Toronto Maple Leafs Morgan Rielly Out For Weeks
Morgan Rielly is the Maple Leafs´ most important and most-utilized player. Toronto drafted Rielly as the fifth overall player in the 2012 NHL Draft. Since then, Rielly has skated in 516 games in the NHL with Toronto. He has collected a total of 54 goals and 216 assists for 270 points in those contests. During the 2018-19 campaign, Rielly exploded offensively as he gathered 20 goals and 52 assists for 72 points in 82 games. With that output, Rielly surpassed his previous career-high by 20 points.
This season, Rielly has lowered his offensive production. The 25-year-old defenceman tallied three goals and 24 helpers for 27 points. Last season, Rielly has ended fifth at the Norris Trophy race. He started his campaign slowly, Rielly hoped to gain new gear under the new Maple Leafs Head coach Sheldon Keefe. However, after not missing a single game since the beginning of the past season, Rielly will be back as soon as March.
What Does This Mean For Toronto
During the current season, Rielly averages 24:15 of the ice-time per game to lead all of the Maple Leafs players. It was his career-high in the average ice-time per game, as well. The Maple Leafs have called up young defenceman Sandin. Sandin has already participated in six NHL games earlier this season. The 19-year-old Swedish left-shooting blueliner has recorded two assists in those two games. His last NHL game was on October 12 against the Detroit Red Wings.
For the Maple Leafs, who are already missing Jake Muzzin with his foot injury, on a three-game losing skid, losing Rielly is certainly a huge blow. Toronto sits seventh in the Eastern Conference with 54 points.
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